|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:21 pm
 Despite her recent loss, Ampalaya felt curiously. . . free. For as long as she could remember, it was just her and her mother, hunting together, watching each other's back, and occasionally playing together. Mother had not been a lion to stand still. She always had to be moving, and did not put up with the presence of others. Ampalaya was her only surviving daughter and the only company she enjoyed.
She was an old lioness, though, and despite Ampalaya's attempts to keep her comfortable, she was often in pain in her final sickness. She was glad it was over for her.
Ampalaya was also, selfishly, glad she wouldn't have to care for her anymore. She wanted to settle down, maybe have a family. Be around other lions and have some company when she hunted. Finding a home was her new goal.
That goal, of course, was long term. Her short term goal was to cool off and get a nice long drink. The sun was baking, and Ampalaya was headed toward some shadows on the horizon that she hoped was the beginnings of forest, with nice cool shadows and even nicer pools.
As she got closer, she could smell the water. Once her thirst was quenched she could worry about her stomach- and then, a pride.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:31 pm
 As usual, Orad was alone. Though he didn't find his own company lacking, he would assuredly welcome the company of another. This, among other things, meant Orad was a generally friendly lion, one was quick to make friends with any he happened across. Sometimes this caused trouble for the spotted lion, other times he gained a dear friend.
Today the blasting sun had driven Orad to find shelter under a collection of scrubby trees. Despite being in the shade, the temperatures still raged into uncomfortable territories. Orad eyed the area where cool rainwater had pooled, debating a quick dip if only to cool himself. It wasn't something he pondered for long; raising his light gaze from the object of his current thoughts, he caught sight of a lioness making her way towards his position. He waited for her to draw closer before greeting her warmly with a soft, "Hello."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:52 pm
As she neared the shadows, she saw that it was not, unfortunately, a forest, but a stand of trees that would just possibly shelter a few lions from only the worst of the heat. Still, better then nothing. And the smell of water really was delicious.
Ampalaya stopped a few meters away from the pool and the lion beside it. She really wasn't used to other lions - aside from her mother- especially male lions. Was she encroaching on his territory?
"Hello, there. Um, is that your pool? Would you mind if I took a drink?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:44 am
Orad grinned at the female, sweeping a generous paw out to indicate the pond. "Please, drink your fill. Though I find myself here, much like yourself, I cannot lay claim to the pool." He eyed her warmly, showing no outward signs of aggression.
The grin on his muzzle turned into a goofy smile, one he hoped was inviting. The last thing he wanted to do was to frighten off the girl. "What brings you out into this heat, besides the need for a cool drink?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:59 am
The smile was reassuring, so she came into the shade and stood by the pool, near the lion. Before answering, Ampalaya took a drink. A long drink. Once her thirst was quenched, she sat up and smiled back at the lion. "I'm out in the heat to find somewhere to cool off. I'm out here," she moved her head around to indicate the dry scrub that surrounded their little grove of trees, "because I'm trying to find a place to settle down now that my mother's gone. My name is Ampalaya. What's yours?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:30 am
Orad listened to her intently, a myriad of expressions contorting his face as she spoke. Her mother gone? That prodded his mind a bit, made him want to ask questions, but that could be considered rude by some. Orad didn't want to be rude.
"I am Orad," he introduced himself, settling back on his haunches as he watched her closely. "I have no place to call home myself, I suppose you could call me a wanderer." He shrugged as if it was no big deal, his eyes warm and friendly.
He kept thinking about the comment she'd made, about her mother. He didn't want to be rude, he really didn't, but he wanted to know what had happened. Against his better judgement, he fairly blurted, "What happened to your mother?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 4:41 pm
"She's dead. No, it's alright. She was sick for a long time. She was a wanderer, too. She never wanted to stop moving. We never slept in the same spot once, until she got too weak to move. I know it sounds. . . horrible, but I'm kind of relieved she's gone. She's not in pain anymore, and I can do what I want without hurting her and leaving her."
Ampalaya stretched out and settled down beside the pond. "Once she was gone I picked a direction and started walking. I thought about trying to find my father but there isn't much point. I'm just going to see if I can find a group of lions that I'll be happy to settle down with. It's been a pretty quiet life, with just me and Mom."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:22 am
Orad nodded in understanding. "It was the opposite for me. My mother died when I was but a cub; sadly I have no memory of her. It was my father who raised us, finding another female who had lost her cubs, one heavy with milk so she could nurse us." He smiled in memory of his father; he'd been a strong, capable lion, one worthy of such fond remembrance.
"He died years back, when I was but an adolescent. I woke up one morning to find him dead; I can only hope he had a peaceful death in his sleep." Orad's voice was strong, though it held great emotion in its tone.
"And you, Ampalaya? Have you had any luck in finding a place to call home as of yet?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 4:41 pm
"I'm sorry about your dad. It must have been rough for you." Ampalaya's voice went soft. She had been ready for her mother's passing, but to wake up and find her dead would have been horrible. . .
The lioness snapped herself out of it. "I've just started the search, really. The last time we saw a group of settled lions was weeks ago, really, but they were pretty big and didn't seem to keen on letting outsiders hang around, so I didn't want to head back that way. I'd much rather find someplace welcoming. And not too hot. I hated the unending sun on the plain."
After a brief pause, Ampalaya continued.
"What about you, Orad? What are you looking for?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:30 am
"Someplace warm, but not too warm. A place near water would be nice. Most importantly, someplace welcoming. I don't want to feel as if I am not wanted," he murmured, watching the lioness closely. "I can't really give specifics. I think I'll know it when I see it," he continued, a small smile breaking across his features.
"I do know that it must be a safe place to raise a family. I don't want to live in a land constantly tormented by war." Orad shrugged slightly to himself, an ear twitching as an errant fly drew too close.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:11 pm
Ampalaya nodded back. She and her mother had once accidentally wandered into the bounds of a very warlike pride; in just the amount of time it had taken them to be escorted to the pride's borders, she had seen lions fighting over a female, cubs scurrying this way and that, and bigger lions moving in to roughly break the smaller fighters up- climaxing in an all out brawl that the guards rushed back to watch as soon as she and her mother were over the stream that marked the borders.
"I agree. What's the point of finding a place if you and your cubs cannot be safe there? I hope you find that place. It sounds lovely." A smile broke out over her face.
"Especially being near water. Once, my mother and I wandered near a big water that tasted strange. I got to swim in it for the day. It was lovely. When we were crossing dry lands I used to think of that day. I'd like to see the big water again."
Ampalaya's tail twitched when she was happy, and the tip started twitching now. She batted at the pool before them. "It was a lot deeper then this, and it stretched on forever. There was plenty of room, there. Not like this little pool. A whole pride could go into the water and there would be plenty of room left."
Ampalaya looked across the pool at Orad. "So you've never found a place like that? It does sound perfect. Exactly what I want," she finished wistfully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:27 pm
Orad shook his head. He was saddened a bit; he was getting older as each day passed, he should have a place to call home and yet despite his searching... there wasn't one to be found. "I have heard of a few prides that sound intriguing, but I have made no moves towards them. One is a pride where the males keep harems. This pride is near a lake, or so I hear." He shrugged; he wasn't keen on a harem, really, but if it was a safe place for him to start a family, well... who was he to complain?
"I have also heard of a pride where the lions live near a temple; they call themselves the Dawn Walkers." Orad grinned, "I'm not sure what it means, to be honest, and the lions I spoke to were only in passing, I'm afraid."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 1:51 pm
Ampalaya had quirked her face when he mentioned "harem," then looked a bit confused at the idea of a temple. She had never no idea what it was.
"Maybe they like to wake up early, as a pride? It could be some kind of ritual. But what's a Tem Pull? I've never heard of a Tem Pull." Not knowing the word made Ampalaya blush; she didn't want to appear dumb in front of this elegant lion, but she also didn't want to pretend she knew what it was when the idea was completely foreign to her.
"Do you think living near a Tem Pull would be nice? I wonder if they have water there."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:32 pm
"If you like," Orad offered, "I can travel with you there." He grinned, enjoying her charming confusion. "I imagine it'd be a lovely place, Ampalaya. I believe I heard it mentioned that the pridelands were located near the mouth of a river." He didn't want to frighten her, but he was excited by the prospect of spending more time with her, getting to know her.
"Perhaps when we arrive, neither of us will want to leave." He grinned, wanting to encourage her to agree but not wanting to seem too persuasive. "I'm sure we could reach their borders within a few days of easy travel, if you're interested."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:13 pm
Orad needn't have worried about coming on too strongly. Ampalaya was more than ready to settle down - and he was quite handsome, even if a bit older then her. She was flattered, rather then put off, by his invitation. Ampalaya agreed at once.
"I'd love to go with you. To see the pride's lands, I mean. And I need to find out what a Tem Pull is."
She walked over and sat down nearer to him.
"Only let's not start until it cools off a little bit. It's too hot for walking around."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
